Contact device for suspended electric conductors



(No ModeL) C. J. VAN DEPOELE..

CONTACT DEVICE FOR SUSPENDED ELECTRIC CCNDUCTORS.

No. 331,585. Patented Deo. 1, 1885.

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` UNITED STATES PATENT Ori-rich.

CHARLES J'. VAN DEPOELE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONTACT DEVICE FOR SUSPENDED ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,585, dated December l. 3.885. Application filed October 2. 1885. Serial No. 178,841. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Contact Devices for Suspended Electric Conductors, ofwwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to improvements in contact devices for suspended electric conductors and it consists in the various devices and combinations of mechanical and current-transmitting devices used in connection with one form of electric railway, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an end view showing an ordinary railway or tram car with its contact device, one of the posts for supporting the conductors, and the arrangement of the track in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the contactwheel shown on top of the car on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the suspending-insulator, together with the contact-wheel and its yielding support. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details showing the construction and mode of attachment of the suspending devices to the conductor.

Similar letters indicate like parts.

A represents an ordinary tram-car.

B B are the rails supporting the car, which rails constitute one side of the circuit, being connected to one pole-say the negativeof the generator. A series of posts, C, are located between or alongside the track, and when placed as herein shown they are to be provided with cross-arms D D, extending to a point above or near the center of each track. The post and its arms may be constructed of any suitable material, and each arm D is provided at its extremity with insulators d, which are attached thereto by pins or bolts df, which are permanently secured to the insulators and pass through a somewhat extensive and preferably flexible piece of insulating material, d2, which is let into or attached to the arm D in any suitable manner, and which, when in position, serves to prevent the vibrations of the supporting-post from being communicated to the insulator d. The insulator d is an inverted cup, provided at its highest interior point with a link or hook, E, which may be secured therein in the process of manufacture, or be afterward placed in position and fastened therein with sulphur or plaster-of-paris or other similar plastic material. From the hook E depends a strap, e, which may be of leather, canvas, or any sufficiently iiexible metal.

F is an electric conductor, which represents the other pole of the generator, and it is to be constructed of hard drawn copper wire, preferably solid, for all small or moderately-sized installations; but in case of a railway requiring the transmission of a very large amount of electric energy I use a cable composed of a number of smaller wires, as indicated in Fig. 6.

For the purpose of supporting the conductor I provide narrow strips of metal f, of a weight and thickness proportioned to the size of the conductor, but under no circumstances being of a width exceeding the thickness. thereof. These strips f are securely attached at intervals along the conductor F by brazing or soldering, and when so attached constitute ears, to which the free ends of the straps e are connected, and by which the conductor is supported in the desired position above the track.

The car is provided with a suitable motor, G, which is electrically connected to the Wheels G, and also by suitable conductors to a contact-wheel, H, located, preferably, on top of the car. The wheel H is formed with a deep groove in its periphery and is mounted within a movable bearing, H, situated in a vertical slot in a frame, H2, secured directly to the car, but properly insulated therefrom. A spiral or other suitable spring, J, is located within the frame H2 and under the movable bearing H', so that the contact-wheel is flexibly supported, and is thereby rendered capable of automatically compensating for the sag of the conductor between its points of suspension.

Thewheel His composed of ahub, lz., of paper, metal, or any suitable non-elastic material, to which is secured a web, h, preferably of soft rubber, although any other sufiicientlyelastic substance will answer. To the web h ICO is secured a metallic rim, h2, which is formed with a deep groove in its periphery, in the bottom of which rests the 4 conductor F, as shown. The hub and rim are formed with removable flanges j j, which are placed in position after the assembling of the other portions of the wheel, and which then serve to retain all the parts in position. The rim and hub of the wheel or the rim and movable bearing are electrically connected, from whence the current is carried to the motor in any suitable and convenient manner.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with a vehicle, of the contact-wheel H, movable bearing H therefor, the frame H2, containing said movable bearing, and a spring, J, located within said frame and adapted to support the weight of the movable bearing and the contactwheel, substantially as set forth.

2. The contact-wheel H, composed of a non-elastic hub having a suitable aXis, a metallic rim for cont-act with the conductor, and an elastic web uniting the rim and the hub, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the wheel H, composed of the grooved metallic rim h2, meta-llic hub h, and flexible web h', with the vertically-moving bearing H', carried within the frame H2, in which the said wheel is suitably mounted, and the spring J, located below and sustaining the movable wheel-carrying bearing, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric railway system, the combination, with the supporting pole or post C, carrying cross-arms D D, provided at their extremities with the insulating-cups d d, of the conductor F, means for suspending said conductor, said means consisting of straps or other similar devices, and afleXibly-mounted contact-wheel traveling with the vehicle, said contact-wheel being spring-pressed upward electric contact with any of the other metallic y parts of the insulator, and a link or hook of suitable shape and material secured to the upper inner part of the inverted cup,and from which the. electric conductor is suspended, by

means'of a suitable strap or support, substantially as described.

47. In an electric railway system, a suspended electric conductor consisting of a copper wire, cable, or rod of hard-drawn copper,

provided at intervals with ears or clamps brazed or soldered thereto,and by which it is secured to suitable straps for suspending it in the path of its contact, as described and set forth.

8. In an electric railway system, a suspended electric conductor of copper or other suitable metal, provided at intervals with ears or clamps permanently secured to its upper side, and by means of which the conductor is suspended, not interfering with the free passage of the contact-wheel along the under side of said conductor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

Vitnesses:

AARON K. STILns, WILLIAM A. STILEs. 

